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Fun characters with an enjoyable ghost story. I also usually like mixed media but this one just didnt click with me.

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I had a fun time with this. I love thrillers and I love when books reflect on other decades. I will say that I knew about Bill pretty immediately. I wish that wasn't so obvious. I also wish there was more of a push and pull between Chrissy and Rodney. They seemed to resolve their issues too easily. I do really like their dynamic though. I felt transported back to the eighties in Chrissy's visions, which was really cool! Overall a good time, I rated this a 3.5/5,

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✨ Book Review: 80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (CAWPILE Rating: 9.14)

After being in a bit of a reading slump, 80s Ghosts came along and completely snapped me out of it. This book was exactly the supernatural kick I needed!

The story follows Chrissy, who has moved out of her parents’ house to chase her dream of investigating and documenting the afterlife. Alongside her ghost-hunting partners - Rodney and Bill - she’s chasing proof of the "Otherside" to post online. Unfortunately, their cases have been mostly dead ends (pun intended), and Rodney has resorted to faking ghost encounters just to keep things afloat.

With money running out and an eviction looming, Chrissy gets a call about a haunting at the abandoned Merlin High School - where a tragic fire during a late-80s dance claimed many lives. Chrissy sees this as her chance to finally capture real paranormal activity. Rodney and Bill? Not so much. They’re hesitant, but Chrissy eventually convinces them to take the case, and from there - get ready for some fun, eerie, ghost-filled chaos!

There’s even a touch of romance, which I really enjoyed. It was just enough to add warmth without taking away from the creepy-cool vibes.

What I Loved:
👻 Characters – 9/10
Chrissy and Rodney shine with an electric dynamic. Chrissy isn’t in it for fame - she’s driven by a genuine desire to help lost souls find peace. The last third of the book adds depth to the characters in a way that’s both emotional and satisfying. You might even want to give a few of them a hug by the end.

🏚️ Atmosphere – 9/10
Some haunted house stories overdo the purple prose, but V.S. Lawrence strikes the perfect balance. The small-town setting, the haunted school, and the eerie dream sequences all blend into a wonderfully spooky, nostalgic 80s vibe - without feeling overwrought.

✍️ Writing – 8/10
This one is engaging and vivid, with scenes that are easy to visualize. My only nitpick: the transcript sections. Sometimes they added to the story, but occasionally they annoyed me.

🧩 Plot – 10/10
This was the reason I picked up the book - and it totally delivered. Twisty, compelling, and deeply satisfying.

🕵️‍♀️ Intrigue – 10/10
I was hooked! I found myself coming up with theories, and I actually got excited when a few turned out to be right. It kept me invested!

🧠 Logic – 8/10
There were a few moments where character decisions didn’t quite make sense to me - like a situation where one character boxed in with only one (questionable) option. But it didn’t majorly impact the overall experience

📚 Enjoyment – 10/10
I devoured this in just two days. It pulled me out of a reading slump, and for that, I’m grateful.

Final Thoughts:
80s Ghosts is fun, creepy, heartfelt, and filled with just the right amount of nostalgia and suspense. If you're looking for a supernatural adventure with depth, humor, and a few heartfelt surprises - this is the one.

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Thank you for the audiobook copy of 80s Ghost!
This book had a super interesting plot, that had me guessing at every turn. I was a little worried that the ghosts were going to end up not being real, but that wasn’t the case. If you enjoy paranormal movies you’ll love this one.
My only complaint would be the lack of “scary” in it, which I prefer in my paranormal books.

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I was given the free ARC from #Netgalley. I loved this narrator and will follow her career going forward. Unfortunately I can only review what I was able to listen to since the audio archived in the middle of listening to the title. My fault for not seeing what the date would be to archive it, The title was a hybrid og ghost story, tragedy, some small romance,and true crime story. Our female protagonist started a kind of ghost buster type podcast show set in 2009. The story was engaging and moved along wel, the only art that gets tedious was some audio files that are very slow moving that were supposed to verify whether ghosts were real or not for the story line. I will definitely read more from the author, V S Lawrence. The only reason for the 3 stars is strictly because I wasn't able to get the end of the story.

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"Nah dude, that's Aquanet."

Parts of this book took my 80s baby self back, and there was something about this particular line that struck me as reader. Andrews was able to take something such as the distinct smell of an iconic hairspray and use it to transport readers directly to this time and place. I closed my eyes at this part and took a deep inhale, and I swear I felt teleported straight to these pages. I loved how Andrews as able to maintain this thoroughout the book. I did struggle a bit at times to connect to the narrator of the audiobook, but this is often a matter of personal taste and preference.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the eAudiobook ARC

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4.25⭐️s
The book opens with a look at the ghost hunting team and their ‘tricks’. Enter the school and the history of the 80s fire that claimed so many lives. What starts off as an opportunity for the ghost hunting show evolves into a spiderweb of unknown connections to the school as the team has spooky encounters that follow them from the school.
The narrator did a great job bringing all the aspects of the story to life. It was easy to become invested into the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the advance audiobook. The cover and the description drew me in to request this and I’m so glad I did. All opinions are my own.

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I enjoyed the nostalgia, but sometimes the media took me out of the story as I was listening to this as an audiobook. The narrator was a little bit flat so I am taking a star off for that, as it took me out of the story. I think if I physically read the book I would have been more invested in the characters. Overall, a good story and I would recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
3 star

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Chrissy Rodriguez, has a ghost hunting vlog,The Othersiders. Her team is asked to go back to investigate Merlin High, a high school that burned down in the 80s. While the two men on her team were not as enthusiastic as she was, they all agreed to go. This was quite the ghost story, not the kind to give me nightmares, but enough to give me the chills and have me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. I couldn’t put this down once I started listening to it. I kind of expected one of the twists at the end, but certainly wasn’t anticipating the majority of what happened. As a high schooler in the late 80s, the author captured the time period well.

Bianca Bryan is the narrator. The pacing was good. The characters were easy to distinguish and this was enjoyable to listen to.

Thank you to the V.S. Lawrence, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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I received an advance copy of the audio book for review. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but really enjoyed this story. It also leaves it open for there to be more stories in the future for Chrissy and Rodney which could be fun.

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🎧 Audiobook Review: 80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence

Rating: 4.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ /5 stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @tantoraudio for the ALC!

Okay so imagine it’s 2009. You’re broke, your ghost hunting vlog is hanging on by a thread, and you get invited to investigate a high school that mysteriously burned down in the 80s. Sounds like a plot from a BuzzFeed Unsolved x Fear Street crossover and I loved it👻🎥

80s Ghosts is a fast paced, nostalgic horror story that somehow manages to be eerie and emotionally grounded. Chrissy Rodriguez is a hot mess in the best way, and following her as she explores the ruined halls of Merlin High felt like watching a found footage horror film unfold through my headphones.

The vibe? VHS static. Neon lights. Creepy team dynamics. Ghosts that don’t just want attention, they want revenge. 🫣 I loved the way the past and present blurred together, making me question everything (and everyone). The suspense kept me hooked, and the audiobook narrator aka Bianca Bryan nailed the energy of every single scene.

Also, I did not expect to feel feelings but I absolutely did. There are moments of grief, guilt, and emotional unraveling that hit hard between the jump scares.

If you’re into:
🔹 Ghost stories with a retro twist
🔹 Dysfunctional friend groups under pressure
🔹 Haunting atmospheres & slow-burn dread
🔹 That grainy VHS core aesthetic
Add this to your list ASAP.

It's also a very fun summer horror read!

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for the early listen! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what V.S. Lawrence writes next!

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80s ghosts 👻

Currently having myself a summerween 🎃

(does anyone else associate ANYTHING 80s with stranger things now or just me?)

This was a good listen — solid plot, solid characters, and great detail! It starts out already interesting and gets better as it goes along when we dive more into the backstory of the school and our ghost investigation team. I did not find the twists to be predictable (yay!) and couldn’t wait to find out what happened in the end. I loved that we got a dual timeline and some overlaps! My only complaint was that the transcript portions of the listen kind of pulled me out of the story and didn’t feel super necessary.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished this one just in time for release day — this is out TODAY, July 8, 2025!!!!!!!!

Thank you @netgalley for the advance listener’s copy✨

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This was such an enjoyable audiobook. I couldn't resist a ghost story set in the 80s and told from a 2009 point of view. The nostalgia was so fun! And that cover completely sold me!

The story follows the Othersiders team: Chrissy, Rodney and Bill. They have carved out a niche for themselves by streaming their ghost-hunting show online instead of airing it on TV. When Chrissy receives an email from Sam Cleeves asking them to investigate Merlin High, a school that burned down in the 80s, the team is hesitant but eventually decides to pack up their gear and go. Sam’s story about the strange events at the school is unsettling, but they have no idea just how far this investigation will push them.

I did figure out some of the twists pretty early on, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment, and I appreciated how everything unfolded. The eerie atmosphere was great, though I do wish it had leaned into the scares a little more. The narration was excellent and made the story feel like an old-school horror film brought to life.

If you’re looking for a ghost story that’s fun, nostalgic and doesn’t take itself too seriously, 80s Ghosts is definitely worth adding to your list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC.

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If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Buzzfeed Unsolved met Stranger Things in a burned-down high school, 80s Ghosts has your answer—and it’s creepy, nostalgic, and just a little bit bizarre. V.S. Lawrence serves up a solid supernatural mystery wrapped in VHS static, shoulder pads, and decaying drywall, all seen through the lens of a desperate ghost-hunting vlogger one unpaid bill away from calling it quits.

The story follows Chrissy Rodriguez in 2009, trying to keep her paranormal vlog alive while the internet collectively shrugs. Her last-ditch shot at fame (or at least relevance) lands her at Merlin High—a school that burned down in the 1980s under mysterious circumstances. From the moment Chrissy and her crew set foot in the ruins, things start to go sideways: team dynamics shift, time doesn’t quite behave, and the air practically hums with secrets that haven’t stopped echoing since leg warmers were in style.

There’s a lot to like here. The setting is spot-on, and not just because it’s haunted. Lawrence uses the school as more than a backdrop; it breathes, remembers, and distorts reality in ways that quietly mess with your head. There’s no reliance on cheap jump scares—just the slow, steady unraveling of reality until you’re not sure if you’re reading about ghosts or witnessing trauma still haunting the walls. The sense of dread grows steadily, and the 80s flashbacks are just eerie enough to feel like déjà vu with a pulse.

The plot moves briskly, even if some twists feel more like educated guesses than surprises. There are connections that land with a satisfying aha, but a few coincidences stretch belief, even in a ghost story. That said, it didn’t take away from the fun—think Scooby-Doo for grown-ups, if Daphne had anxiety and Fred carried a GoPro.

Bianca Bryan’s narration brings it all together in the audiobook. Her voice shifts smoothly across characters, giving each one just enough distinction without veering into caricature. She’s especially good at capturing the simmering tension that bubbles just under the surface—never overly dramatic, but always aware that something’s wrong. Her pace matches the story’s build: calm where it needs to be, quick when the fear kicks in, and unflinchingly steady when the ghosts are whispering from behind the drywall.

This is a 3.5-star read for me—entertaining, a little spooky, and an easy recommendation for fans of haunted places, 80s nostalgia, or messy found-family horror stories. And while the plot doesn’t always shock, it keeps you curious. If nothing else, it makes a strong case for never doing a ghost hunt in a school that looks like the Breakfast Club never left.

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Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Media for this ARC,

80s Ghosts, by V.S. Lawrence is an easy, quick and kind of spooky read. It’s about Chrissy Rodriguez and her two friends, trying to make it big in the ghost hunting business (that took me back to the time I would watch Paranormal State on A&E, fun times).

It’s an alright book, the story is engaging enough and the characters didn’t bother me too much (although sometimes I wanted to grab Chrissy the shoulders and shake her). The twists are predictable, but honestly? I didn’t mind that much.

Overall, I had fun with this one. Also, kudos to Bianca Bryan, the narrator.

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This was such a fun read! Super campy, nostalgic, and yeah… kinda cheesy, but honestly in the best way. It gave me major Ghost Hunters mixed with Stranger Things vibes, and I was fully here for it. It’s fast-paced, really entertaining, and even had a few creepy moments that surprised me.

I especially loved the ghost hunter TV show vibe running through it, and the way all the weird little connections came together by the end was so satisfying. There’s also this underlining love story between Chrissy and the other guy (not spoiling anything!) that was actually really charming—it added a nice little layer to the chaos.

It felt like watching one of those old, spooky TV marathons on VHS—just pure retro fun with some eerie twists.

If you’re into nostalgic, campy horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers a solid story, this one is definitely worth checking out. Highly recommend if you like Stranger Things mixed with Ghost Hunters!

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When I am looking for a ghost story, this is exactly what I want. A group of investigators is invited to tour and film in a reportedly haunted location, they show up and find much more than they ever hoped to, learning about what happened and eventually, hopefully, helping the trapped souls cross over. The setting of the 80s, with the jabs at 80s fashion (the smell of Aqua Net hairspray, for one), was perfect for this story and I couldn’t put it down. It did start out slow, and the interviews did pull me out of the story for a little but other than that, I was invested and loved it!

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I had the opportunity to review 80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence, and it turned out to be a fun, fast-paced blend of supernatural mystery and horror. The story centers around a haunted school that tragically burned down in the 1980s, and the main character feels a mysterious pull drawing her to the site. As her team investigates, the unsettling history of the school begins to reveal itself—and things get increasingly eerie.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a quick, engaging read with just the right mix of suspense and paranormal intrigue. I listened to the audiobook and was completely immersed—there was even a moment that made me physically jump, which is rare for me while listening. 80s Ghosts surprised me in the best way, and I wasn’t always sure where the story would go next. A great choice for fans of ghost stories, creepy atmospheres, and a touch of 80s nostalgia.

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This is my first paranormal book I’ve read. I listened to the audiobook and was actually surprised how much I liked 80s Ghosts! I was kinda nervous considering I love paranormal movies/shows so wasn’t too sure how a book would do. Loved the storyline over all. A touch of romance is always my fave 😏

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Thank you to Tantor Audio and to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook.

I grew up in the 80s and enjoy a good ghost story, so when I saw this, I knew it was the perfect book for me.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. It has several twists and turns that I didn't see coming.


Such a fun read. The narrator was great too.

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